Southern Living to give free gift to first 200 guests at new Alabama store

The first 200 guests at Southern Living's grand opening this weekend in Huntsville will receive a free miniature succulent plant from the retailer.

Southern Living parent company Time Inc. will launch a 5,500-square-foot store at 10 a.m. May 27 at the north end of the shopping center next to Francesca's. It will be the third Southern Living retail shop in the U.S., joining other locations in North Carolina and Florida.

Time Inc. is partnering with Beyond Brands Group, LLC, to open the store. Beyond Brands President Richard Gudzan said it was an easy decision to choose Huntsville over Birmingham, Mobile or another Alabama city for the expansion.

"We believe our store concept fits perfectly with Huntsville's progressive growth and its unique Modern South lifestyle blended with the surrounding area's timeless traditions and rich heritage of the Southern way of life," he said in a statement to AL.com.

The Huntsville site will feature in-house experts and dedicated spaces for fashion, beauty, food, home décor and gardening. Charleston Tea, Face To Face, Lamon Luther, Love Cookies, Merry Cheese Crisps, Natural Life and Prayer Bowls are a few of the brands that will have items for sale in the store.

Local artists and producers, like 1818 Farms in Mooresville, will also have merchandise for sale at the shop in Huntsville. The company will host book signings and artist visits and provide food and tea samples to customers.

In other Bridge Street news

Connors Steak & Seafood is building a new dining patio, which should open on or before June 1. Kendra Scott, a new market-exclusive retailer, is also slated to launch June 23 next to Altar'd State.

Urban Cookhouse, which is under construction next to Mountain High Outfitters, plans to open in mid-to-late June. Victoria's Secret's existing store is being remodeled and will reopen in July. In the meantime, the store is operating temporarily in the former J. Crew space next to Kate Spade New York.

Bath & Body Works is also moving to a larger unit next to Lucky Brand Jeans, with a projected opening of June 30. Redline Steel CEO Colin Wayne Erwin said he signed a letter of intent last week for a new concept, Redline Decor, at the Bath & Body Works space.

Erwin, who anticipates a three-week buildout at Bridge Street in July, will hire 10 employees for Redline Decor. All merchandise will be manufactured at Redline's 50,000-square-foot facility on 295 Cochran Road in Huntsville.